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What are some signs that I’m grinding my teeth?

The majority of people who chronically grind or clench their teeth experience head, neck, or jaw pain when they wake up. Often, patients at our Queen Anne dental office are not aware that this pain is associated with grinding of their teeth (bruxism).

This occurs because you are putting significant additional stress on your teeth, which in turn stresses your jaw joint. Over time, this excess force can cause the joint to break down, leading to TMJ.

Another sign that you have bruxism is not so obvious. As you can imagine, the stress on your teeth caused by grinding and clenching can lead to premature wearing of your dental enamel. Unless substantial damage has occurred, Dr. Goel will probably be the first to notice the wearing of your tooth.

We know that the painful symptoms of teeth grinding can be hard to bear, and even may affect your lifestyle. Fortunately, at Queen Anne Dental, we have a simple solution called a night guard that may be all you need to alleviate these debilitating effects.

If you believe that you are grinding your teeth, please contact our Queen Anne dental office. We want you to get the help you resolve the problem so that you can get on with your life.

Why is teeth grinding bad for my oral health?

Everyone catches themselves grinding their teeth occasionally, usually in moments of stress. But chronic teeth grinding can cause problems with your oral health like premature wearing of teeth, cracked teeth. Grinding and clenching can also affect your jaw joint and possibly even lead to TMJ.

At Queen Anne Dental we know that healthy teeth are very strong because they need to withstand a lot of wear and tear. But teeth grinding puts abnormal stress on your teeth, particularly your molars, which can lead to broken or fractured teeth. Many people who grind their teeth do so because of a misaligned dental bite.

Chronic grinding and clenching can also damage restorations like crowns, bridges, and even porcelain veneers. All these effects impact the health of your teeth, but can lead to more costly repairs in the future as we try to eliminate these problems.

If you grind your teeth, Dr. Goel can create a custom night guard, or occlusal splint, that you wear while your sleep. People primarily grind their teeth during the night and are not aware of it. The night guard holds your teeth in a position that makes it impossible to grind your teeth.

If annoying grinding teeth and the resulting headaches and neck pain are a problem for you, please contact our Queen Anne dental office. We can arrange a consultation with Dr. Goel so that he can evaluate your particular situation and make appropriate recommendations for treatment.

Why do I grind my teeth?

There are several reasons people grind or clench their teeth. This is referred to as bruxism, and is often the result of muscle tension, stress, or a misaligned dental bite.

Teeth grinding and clenching is an annoying problem that usually occurs while you’re sleeping. Since you’re not aware that it’s happening, you may awaken with headaches or pain in your jaw, neck, and shoulders. In some cases, it’s such a problem that the grinding sound can be heard by others.

Obviously, this chronic pain can have a severe negative impact on your life. It can be particularly frustrating when you don’t know why you’re experiencing these painful symptoms.

If you’re grinding your teeth due to a misaligned dental bite, Dr. Goel can evaluate your situation and work with you to correct the problem. Another problem with teeth grinding is the toll it can take on your teeth. The constant grinding and clenching can gradually wear down the surface of the teeth, potentially leading to TMJ.

If you believe that you are grinding your teeth excessively, please contact our Queen Anne Dental office. Dr. Goel can often help prevent teeth grinding with a simple appliance called an occlusal splint to get you the relief you need.

What are occlusal splints, and what are they used for?

Occlusal splints (also referred to as night guards) are used to treat a wide range of dental conditions, depending on the style of the guard. One of the most common uses for occlusal splints at Queen Anne Dental is to address and treat the problem of teeth grinding and clenching.

There are different types of night guards available, but the objective with any of these is to provide relief by repositioning your jaw slightly forward. This prevents your back teeth from touching, so that you cannot grind or clench. The purpose of the splint is to protect your teeth from the wear and damage caused by clenching and grinding, and to relieve tension on the muscles in your jaw.

It is important to treat teeth grinding and clenching because, without treatment, it can lead to TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder), a condition that affects the joint where your lower jaw meets your skull. The night guard is designed to reduce the tension placed on your jaw joint, in turn reducing inflammation and pain.

Teeth grinding and clenching can also lead to migraines, so wearing an occlusal guard can also provide relief from this type of chronic, painful headache.

At our Queen Anne Dental office, Dr. Goel will create a customized occlusal splint that is made to fit your mouth perfectly to provide the desired results. Please contact our office so that we can arrange an evaluation and make appropriate recommendations.

How can you help me stop grinding my teeth?

Teeth grinding (bruxism) is a fairly common problem that affects many people. You may not even be aware that you grind and clench your teeth. But if you regularly wake up with pain in your head, jaw, neck or shoulders, you may be feeling the effects of teeth grinding.

The answer to your problem may be as simple as a custom night guard created for you by Dr. Goel. The guard is worn at night and can effectively reduce or eliminate the painful symptoms of teeth grinding that can have such a dramatic impact on your life.

There are many reasons that people grind their teeth, but most commonly it is caused by stress or a misaligned dental bite. Dr. Goel will examine your teeth to try to pinpoint the conditions that may lead to teeth grinding. A custom night guard has helped many of our patients, and it may be the solution for you as well.

The first step is to make an appointment so that we can work to find the reason you grind and clench your teeth. We will take all the time necessary to pursue appropriate solutions until we find the one that is most effective for you.